إِذْ عُرِضَ عَلَيْهِ بِالْعَشِيِّ الصَّافِنَاتُ الْجِيَادُ[ (Mention the incident) When the well-trained horses of the highest breed were displayed before him in one afternoon, ]

Juz 23, Saad, Verse 032

فَقَالَ إِنِّي أَحْبَبْتُ حُبَّ الْخَيْرِ عَنْ ذِكْرِ رَبِّي حَتَّى تَوَارَتْ بِالْحِجَابِ[ and he said : 'Surely I did love the worldly wealth instead of remembering my Lord (during Asr time)', till the time was over, and the sun had hidden in the veil (of night), ]

Juz 23, Saad, Verse 033

رُدُّوهَا عَلَيَّ فَطَفِقَ مَسْحًا بِالسُّوقِ وَالْأَعْنَاقِ[ 'Bring them back to me'. (And when the horses were brought back) He began to slash their legs and napes (with his sword). ]

Juz 23, Saad, Verse 034

وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا سُلَيْمَانَ وَأَلْقَيْنَا عَلَى كُرْسِيِّهِ جَسَدًا ثُمَّ أَنَابَ[ And indeed, We did test Sulaiman (عليه السلام) and We placed on his throne a body (so he lost his kingdom for a while), then he did return (to Allah with repentance, and to his throne by the Grace of Allah). ]

There are differences of opinions among scholars as to what happened and what kind of body was placed on his throne and after how many days Sulaiman (عليه السلام) regained his Kingdom back.

From the above verse, it is clear that it was a test for Prophet Sulaiman (عليه السلام). When he turned towards Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) in repentance, everything was restored back. Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) granted his supplication and he was given a Kingdom, the like of which is not to be given to anyone in the world.

Juz 23, Saad, Verse 035

قَالَ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَهَبْ لِي مُلْكًا لَا يَنْبَغِي لِأَحَدٍ مِنْ بَعْدِي إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْوَهَّابُ[ He said : 'My Lord! Forgive me, and bestow upon me a kingdom such as shall not be given to anyone after me. You are indeed the Giver (of all bounties).' ]

Juz 23, Saad, Verse 036

فَسَخَّرْنَا لَهُ الرِّيحَ تَجْرِي بِأَمْرِهِ رُخَاءً حَيْثُ أَصَابَ[ So We gave him control over the wind. Upon his orders, it gently used to blow towards the region of his choice. ]

Juz 23, Saad, Verse 037

وَالشَّيَاطِينَ كُلَّ بَنَّاءٍ وَغَوَّاصٍ[ And (We subjected to him) Jinns, who could build (buildings) and dive (in the oceans). ]

Juz 23, Saad, Verse 038

وَآَخَرِينَ مُقَرَّنِينَ فِي الْأَصْفَادِ[ and others that were bound in shackles. ]

The mischievous Satans among the Jinns were imprisoned by Sulaiman (عليه السلام) so that they were not in a position to create trouble on Earth.

Juz 23, Saad, Verse 039

هَذَا عَطَاؤُنَا فَامْنُنْ أَوْ أَمْسِكْ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ[ (We said to Sulaiman عليه السلام) : 'This is Our gift, so you spend or withhold, no account will be asked.' ]

Juz 23, Saad, Verse 040

وَإِنَّ لَهُ عِنْدَنَا لَزُلْفَى وَحُسْنَ مَآَبٍ[ Surely he is in proximity with Us and will have an excellent place of final abode. ]

وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ أَهْلَهُ وَمِثْلَهُمْ مَعَهُمْ رَحْمَةً مِنَّا وَذِكْرَى لِأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ[ And We restored to him his family and many more with them, as a grace from Ourselves, and (it is) a reminder (about Allah's bestowal) for the people of understanding. ]

Prophet Ayyub (عليه السلام) was the descendant of Prophet Ishaq (عليه السلام). He lived in Syria. He was very humble and used to glorify Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) devotedly. Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) had provided him with many bounties, like big house, lands, farms, live stock, servants and many children.

Then Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) tested him. He was striped of all his wealth and possessions. But, it did not matter to Ayyub (عليه السلام) as he remained committed to the glorification of Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ). Then Ayyub (عليه السلام) lost all his children, one by one. Then he lost his health as he was afflicted with a loathsome disease with severe pain. The disease worsened day by day to an extent that people of his community abandoned him outside the town where no one visited him except his wife who remained with him through all these trials. She worked in the homes of people to make a living and to look after him who was abandoned alone. Even in this condition, Ayyub (عليه السلام) did not loose heart and remained steadfast in the glorification of Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ).

Ayyub (عليه السلام) remained in this state for about 18 years. Then one day he prayed 'My Lord, Satan has afflicted me with hardship and suffering'. And Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) responded by saying 'Strike (the ground) with your foot; here is a (spring for you) for cool bath and drink.' After he took bath from that spring, Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) removed all afflictions from him and he became as sound as he had been previously. His wife was not there at that time. When she returned to him, she did not recognize her husband standing in front of her hale and hearty. She asked him, 'May Allah bless you, have you seen the Prophet of Allah who was ill here? And by Allah, I have not seen a man, more similar to him when he was healthy, than you. Prophet Ayyub (عليه السلام) said 'it is me only'. Later Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) returned all his wealth, possessions and his children.

It is reported that Prophet Ayyub's (عليه السلام) wife had committed some mistake during his illness and he vowed that she will be called to account for that. When he regained health, Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) asked him to strike his wife with a bundle of thin grass leaves as fulfillment of his oath.

Juz 23, Saad, Verse 045

وَاذْكُرْ عِبَادَنَا إبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ أُولِي الْأَيْدِي وَالْأَبْصَارِ[ And remember Our servants Ibrahim, Ishaq and Yaqoob (عليهم السلام). They all had the insight and the strength of character.]

Juz 23, Saad, Verse 046

إِنَّا أَخْلَصْنَاهُمْ بِخَالِصَةٍ ذِكْرَى الدَّارِ[ Verily We did choose them for a special (purpose); proclaiming the Message of the Hereafter.]

Juz 23, Saad, Verse 047

وَإِنَّهُمْ عِنْدَنَا لَمِنَ الْمُصْطَفَيْنَ الْأَخْيَارِ[ And indeed they are among the best of the chosen ones in Our view.]

Juz 23, Saad, Verse 048

وَاذْكُرْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَالْيَسَعَ وَذَا الْكِفْلِ وَكُلٌّ مِنَ الْأَخْيَارِ[ And remember Ismail, Al-Yasaa and Dhul-Kifl (عليهم السلام). They are all among the most pious.]

Juz 23, Saad, Verse 049

هَذَا ذِكْرٌ وَإِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ لَحُسْنَ مَآَبٍ[ All this is a remembrance (of the excellence of those We have mentioned). Surely for those who take heed for themselves is an excellent place of return, ]

Juz 23, Saad, Verse 050

جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ مُفَتَّحَةً لَهُمُ الْأَبْوَابُ[ the Gardens of Eternity, whose gates will be opened for them. ]

Juz 23, Saad, Verse 051

مُتَّكِئِينَ فِيهَا يَدْعُونَ فِيهَا بِفَاكِهَةٍ كَثِيرَةٍ وَشَرَابٍ[ In which they will recline (on thrones), calling therein for many a fruit and drink, ]

Juz 23, Saad, Verse 052

وَعِنْدَهُمْ قَاصِرَاتُ الطَّرْفِ أَتْرَابٌ[ And with them will be pure, chaste-eyed spouses, well-matched. ]

Juz 23, Saad, Verse 053

هَذَا مَا تُوعَدُونَ لِيَوْمِ الْحِسَابِ[ This is what you are promised for the Day of reckoning. ]

Juz 23, Saad, Verse 054

إِنَّ هَذَا لَرِزْقُنَا مَا لَهُ مِنْ نَفَادٍ[ Certainly, such is Our bestowal for you! It will never run out! ]

Juz 23, Saad, Verse 055

هَذَا وَإِنَّ لِلطَّاغِينَ لَشَرَّ مَآَبٍ[ All this (is for the believers). But for the transgressors, an evil resort awaits them. ]

Juz 23, Saad, Verse 056

جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلَوْنَهَا فَبِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ[ (For Unbelievers is) Hell, where they will burn. What an evil place to rest! ]

Juz 23, Saad, Verse 057

هَذَا فَلْيَذُوقُوهُ حَمِيمٌ وَغَسَّاقٌ[ Such will be the reward for the wrongdoers. So they will taste scalding water and pus. ]

Juz 23, Saad, Verse 058

وَآَخَرُ مِنْ شَكْلِهِ أَزْوَاجٌ[ And other similar punishments. ]

Juz 23, Saad, Verse 059

هَذَا فَوْجٌ مُقْتَحِمٌ مَعَكُمْ لَا مَرْحَبًا بِهِمْ إِنَّهُمْ صَالُوا النَّارِ[ (The misguided leaders will say to one another), 'Here is a crowd (of followers) being thrown in with us. They are not welcome, (for) they (too) will burn in the Fire.' ]